Concrete road building structure



J. N. HELTZEL CONCRETE ROAD BUILDING STRUCTURE June 14, 1932.

' Filed NOV. 18 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l F/Zil June 14, 1932. J, N HELTZEL 1,863,].

CONCRETE ROAD BUILDING STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 14, 1932. J N, Z L

CONCRETE ROAD BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 18, 1927 a Sheets-$heet 3 F/ 5. J3.

Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STATES JOHN N. HELTZEL, OF WARREN, OHIO CONCRETE ROAD BUILDING STRUCTURE Application filed November 18, 1927.

The present invention relates to concrete roads and similar surfacing structures, and it :'s an object of the invention to provide novel and improved means for supporting joint plates or strips in place during the building of the road, for controlling the breaks and defining the joints of the road or other cementitious structure, this invention being an M improvement over the structure disclosed in it my copending application Serial No. 149,443,

filed November 19. 1926.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel reinforcement to be embedded m in the concrete.

A further object is the provision of novel pedestals for mounting the joint strips or plates on the reinforcement.

Still another object is the provision of novel means for supporting the pedestals and rein- Z' J forcement above the subbase on which the road is built.

-With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood. that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing P from the spirit of the invention.

30 The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is aplan view of the reinforcement, pedestals, joint plates and other parts,

and illustrating a portion of the completed road.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

F ig. 3 is a perspective view of the pedestal shown in F ig..2. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one of the reinforcing rod joints prior to swaging.

Fig. 5 is a. perspective view of the joint after swa ing. I Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail of a modified construction. I

8 is a cross section on the line 88 of 1; Fig. 1.

Serial No. 234,217.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating another form of pedestal.

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of a joint plate or strip with modified means for-mounting same on the reinforcement. 5

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 illustrate other variations in the pedestals and supporting means.

Fig. 14 is a perspective View showing a joint plate hingedly mounted on the reinforcement with a wire brace for holding the plate in position.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing the construction of Fig. 14 in folded position prior to erection.

Fig. 16 illustrates a wire pedestal in perspective.

Figs. 17 and 18 are perspective views depicting still further variations in the means for mounting the joint plates on the reinforcement.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view illustrating a double mesh reinforcement with a joint plate.

The reinforcement or reinforcing mesh con'lprises the longitudinal and transverse 7. rods 1 and 2, respectively, which may be of suitable gage and spacing. The mesh may be of either rods or bars, and such mesh extends substantially the width of the road from one side to the other.

Heretofore, the crossing elements of the mesh have either been welded together or fastened together by wire clips. It has been found that welded joints frequently break rather easily at the Welds. The welding also reduces the sections of the wires or bars at the points where the Welds are made, and the burning action of the welds in addition to reducing the cross-sections of the elements also reduces the strength from 10 to 20 percent. The amalgamation of the wires or bars is also questionable. In using wire clips they have been found to become loose and the parts separated, and the separation of the elements of the mesh naturally decreases the efiiciency of the reinforcement.

The reinforcing mesh shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, includes the joint members 3, which are steel forgings or the like, and the joint members 3 may be of any suitable shape.

rail

The members 3 have intersecting grooves 4 to receive the rods or bars 1 and 2 where they cross one another, and the bottoms of the grooves are V-shape, as at 5, in order that when the elements 1 and 2 are clamped within the grooves they are wedged within the V-shaped portions 5, thereby securely binding the parts together to prevent slippage or displacement. The elements 1 and 2 and members 3 may be readily assembled, either manually or by a reinforcing fabricating machine, and the sectors or portions 6 between the grooves 4: are swaged by a hammering, pressing or squeezing operation, thereby closing them together over the rods or bars 1 and 2, as seen in Fig. 5. The members or forgings 3 are thus secured under pressure over the crossing portions of the elements 1 and 2, and will therefore provide strong and unbreakable joints for the mesh. The members 3 are smooth so that sheets of the mesh when stacked or handled will not become entangled with one another, such as happens with the use of wire clips. The members 3 also stiffen the elements 1 and 2 at the joints and prevent bending thereof at the points where such elements cross one another.

The wire mesh is disposed above the subbase to be embedded in the road, and the plates or strips for producing the joints in the road are mounted on the mesh. At suitable intervals longitudinally of the road under construction, pedestals 7 are mounted on and bridge the space between a pair of the longitudinal rods or bars 1, preferably those disposed immediately on the opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the road. The pedestals 7 are of sheet metal, and each pedestal has an upwardly opening slot 8 to receive the longitudinal joint plate or strip 9. As shown, the slot 8 has a notch or recess 10 at one side to accommodate an offset portion 11 of the plate 9 between the upper and lower edges of the plate, which is for the purpose of providing a tongue and groove joint, as seen in Fig. 6.

The pedestal 7 is provided near its opposite ends with angular slots 12 opening at the lower edge of the pedestal and extending upwardly and inwardly and terminating in notches 13 to seat over the rods 1. To apply the pedestal to said rods the pedestal is positioned obliquely so that the rods 1 may enter the slots 12, and then by turning the pedestal to a position at right angles with the rods, said rods enter the slots and engage in the seats or notches 13.

The pedestal has portions or tongues 14: extending therefrom above the slots 13 and in opposite directions. Said portions 14 are adapted to bear on the rods 1 when the pedestal is moved to position, thereby preventing the pedestal from tilting longitudinally of said rods. The edges of the portions 14 are preferably bent or turned upwardly so that said portions will move onto said rods when the pedestal is turned into position, and said portions are resilient so as to be sprung upwardly when moving over the rods. The portions 14: have longitudinal upstruck ribs 15 to snap and fit over the rods 1, thereby assisting in holding the pedestal firmly in place on the reinforcement.

The portions 14 have slots or openings 16 through which stakes 17 may be driven down into the sub-base, for supporting the reinforcement and pedestal at the desired dis tance above the sub-base, as seen in Fig. 2. The stakes 17 may be corrugated or notched, as at 18, to engage the rods 1 and frictionally hold the parts in the desired position.

The pedestal 7 hasopenings 19 at opposite sides of the slot 8, and has stiffening ribs 20 and 21 below and above said openings. Apertured ears 22 extend to one side from the pedestal at the opposite sides of the slot 8 to receive a rod 23 which is inserted through the joint plate 9, said rod assisting in bolding the joint plate in place as well as subsequently tieing the road slabs together.

The pedestal 7 has a'ngularly extending inclined flanges 24 extending along converging lines from the portions 14 to the upper open end of the slot 8, and serving as braces. The flanges 24 have slots 25 to receive the inner or adjacent ends of transverse joint plates or strips 26.

The plates or strips 26 are supported from the rods or bars 2 by means of pedestals 7 corresponding with the pedestals 7 but the flanges 24, ears 22 and other parts may be omitted.

The Wire mesh is first placed on the subbase, after which the pedestals are positioned thereon and fastened in place by the stakes 17, and the joint plates or strips are then placed in the slots of the pedestals. As shown in Fig. 2, the wire mesh may be placed on a lower layer of concrete already placed on the sub-base. The concrete is then poured over the reinforcement, pedestals and joint plates, and is struck-off, screeded, belted and otherwise finished, thereby embedding the wire mesh, pedestals and joint plates in the road.

The longitudinal joint plates 9 may be accurately positioned by means of a gage bar 27 having members 28 to straddle the plate 9 and members 29 to straddle one of the side rails or forms 32 between which the road is built. The members 28 and 29 are adjustable for roads of different widths, and by means of this gage the longitudinal joint may be made straight or regular. I

Should the tamping or working of the concrete cause the wire mesh to sag so that the joint plates sink below the surface of the road, they may be lifted up before the concrete has set by means of a jacking device. This device comprises a bridge bar 30, of angle iron or other suitable material, to seat on the rails 32 and span the road. Said-bar has openings 31 at suitable intervals, and a jack is seated on said bar and is composed of a lever 33 mounted on a pedestal 34 and having a depending adjustable hook 35. The hook 35 may be inserted downwardly through any of the openings 31 and forced into the plastic concrete to engage under one of the wires or rods of the reinforcing mesh, with the pedestal 34 seated on the bar 30. Then, by swinging the lever 33 the mesh may be jacked up to lift the joint plates so as to bring the upper edges thereof to the surface of the concrete. This jacking action may be performed at different points where needed.

Before the road is completed, the longitudinal rods 1 are out below the joint plates 26 of the contraction joints, so as to permit the road slabs to separate at said joints due to the contraction of the road. The plastic cncrete is preferably banked against the plates 26, and the rods 1 are then sawed or out below said plates, after which the filling in of the aggregate and finishing thereof is done as above described.

The edges of the slabs along the oint plates 9 and 26 are rounded off by a suitable finishing or edging tool (not shown) so as to avoid ragged edges along the breaks or joints be tween the slabs.

Various oint plates and members may be employed, either of sheet metal, composition, or any suitable material. It is also possible to use a form 9a, as shown in Fig. 9, composed of sheet metal and of V-shaped section, for producing a groove in the road, as seen in Fig. 7, which may be filled subsequently by asphalt, bitumen, or other material, after the form is removed. A closure bar 11a is disposed between the upper edges of the form to exclude concrete therefrom, and after the road has set, the bar 11a may be removed, thereby enabling the sides of the form 966 to be pinched together for conveniently lifting the form from the groove.

The reinforcement pedestals and other parts may be assembled directly on the subbase, or may be assembled at the factory or at one side of the road and then placed in assembled relation on the sub-base. The rods or bars 2 reinforce the road transversely and also tie the slabs together across the longitudinal joint, to prevent the opening of the I longitudinal joint or separation of the slabs at opposite sides of said joint. The rods 1 also reinforce the road longitudinally and prevent the transverse breaking of the road excepting at the transverse joints where the rods 1 have been out as above described.

The pedestal 7a shown in Fig. 9 has the slot 8a receiving the form 9a, it being noted that the slots 8 and 8a of the pedestals 7 and 7-1;, respectively, are V-shaped to receive the form 9a, as well as other joint members. The pertions 14a of the pedestal are spaced above the rods 1 and have depending portions 15a provided with slots 12?) to receive and engage over the rods 1 when the pedestal is swung into position. The slots 12?) terminate in notches or seats 13b to engage over the rods 1 and hold the pedestal in place. Otherwise, the pedestal 7a is substantially the same as the pedestal 7 above described.

Fig. 10 illustrates a joint plate 90 of the kind disclosed in my application Serial No. 189,543, filed May 7 1927 said plate having the irregular portions 110 pressed toward opposite sides. The plate 90 has a flange 36 along its lower edge seating on the rods 2, and a wire brace is provided at each end of the plate 19 for holding same in erect position on the wire mesh. Each. brace is bent from a length of wire and comprises the vertical portion 70, the inclined portion 240, integral with the upper end of the portion 7 c, and the lower portion 37 integral with the lower end of said portion 7 c, and having an eye 38 embracing the portion 240. The portion 70 engages through an aperture in the flange 36 and through an outstruck portion 39 of the plate 90 above said flange, thereby hingedly connecting the brace with the plate. The lower terminal of the inclmed portion 240 is bent into an eye or loop 140 around the corresponding rod 2, there by supporting the plate 90 in erect position, and permitting the plate to be adjusted transversely on the wire mesh.

The pedestal 7d as shown in Fig. 11 comprises the upwardly converging inclined braces 24d united at their upper ends with the depending loop portion 8d for receiving the joint member. The braces 24d have the stiffening ribs 21d and slots d for receiving the inner ends of the transverse joint plates or members, and below the slots 25d have apertures 22d for receiving a transverse reinforcing 0r tie rod. The braces 24d are provided with slots 40 in their lower ends to receive a transverse supporting rod 41 which has its terminals bent downwardly to provide stakes 42 to be driven into the sub-base for supporting the wire mesh and pedestal. The rod 41 passes over the rods 1, and the portions 43 at the opposite sides of the slots 40 are bent upwardly around the rods 1, thereby fastening the pedestal and rods together. The wire mesh and pedestal may be shifted transversely on the rod 41.

Fig. 12 illustrates a pedestal 7e, similar to the pedestal shown in Fig. 11 and comprising braces 24@ connected by a depending loop portion 86 between them to receive and support the joint member. The braces 242 have the slots 256 to receive the transverse joint members, and have apertures 22@ below the slots to receive a transverse rod 416. The portions 43 are bent around rods 44 carried by stakes which are driven into the subbase, thereby supporting the pedestal from the stakes. The rods 44 may be of sufficient length to support the rods 2 of the wire mesh, thereby permitting the pedestals to be positioned first and the wire mesh to be Placed thereover.v The'rods 44 and stakes 45 may also be used with the pedestal shown in Fig. 11, as well as the pedestal shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 13 shows a similar pedestal mounted on one of the rods 2. Thus, the slots 40f receive the rod 2', and nails, pins or other members 46 are passed through the eyes or loops 43/'' under the rod 2, thereby holding the pedestal on the wire mesh, and permltting the pedestal to be shifted on the rod 2. 1 Y Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate a joint plate 99 having the offset portion 11g between its upper' and lower edges, and said plate has its lower edge portion bent around one rod 1, as at 47, to hingedly mount the plate on the wire mesh. The lower portion of the plate 9g is cut away, as at 48, to accommodate the transverse rods 2. This permitsthe plate 9g to be swung downwardly against the wire mesh, as seen in Fig. 15, when transporting the wire mesh. A wire brace 24; has a portion 7; engaging pivotally through the offset portion 11g near each end of the plate, thereby permitting the brace to be swung against the plate in folded position, as seen in Fig. 15. The lower free terminal of the brace 24f is bent to form the loops 49 and 50 connected by a loop 51 to engage around the corresponding rods 1 and2, as seen in Fig. 14. The lower terminal of the portion 7; is also bent around the rod 2, as'at 52. The brace 24f may thus be enegaged with the wire mesh and the plate 99 when the plate is swung to upright position.

Fig. 16 shows a wire pedestal including the inclined braces 24h connected by depending loops Sit in which the joint member or form is seated. The brace-s 24h have loops 53'with portions 24 forming hooks to engage the'rods 1. A bar 55 or other implement may be inserted between the, rod 1 and the corresponding portion 54 and then turned to bend or twist the portion 54 around'the rod, thereby securely fastening the pedestal in place.

Fig. 17 shows a joint plate 92' having the offset portion 112', and sheet metal braces 71? are provided for holding the plate in position. Said braces have eyes 56 to be disposed above and below the offset portionllz' and to receive vertical pins 57 inserted through apertures in said ofiset portions. The braces 7% have slots 122' to engage the rods 1, and said braces also have tongues 56 extending from their lower edges to be bent around the rods 2, whereby said braces may be connected to either the rods 1 or the rods 2. The eyes 56 are spaced apart vertically sufiiciently to permit of slight vertical adjustments of the braces 7 z, and when the braces are connected to the rods 2, they extend over the'rods 1, whereas the'braces are slightly lower down when the slots 122' are engaged with the rods 1. v

Fig. 18 illustrates a brace 7y having the slots 12j to engage the rods 1 and the tongues 58y to engage therods 2. The offset portion llj of the joint plate 9 has a slot 59 with a circular opening 60 between the ends thereof, and the plate 7 j has a neck 61 projecting from one end'thereof and provided with a T-head '62. Thus, to fasten the plate and brace together, the brace is turned to a horizontal position and the head 62 is passed 7 through the slot 59, and then by turning the brace to vertical position, the plate 91' is se curely held between the head 62 and corre sponding end of the brace.

F ig.-19 illustrates superposed layers of wire mesh including the upper and lower longitudinal rods 1a and 1b. The longitudinal plate or joint member 9a is disposed between upper and lower rods and is hingedly connected therewith by means of rings 63 embracing the rods and engaging through apertures in said plate. The plate is thus disposed in a vertical plane between the upper and lower layers of mesh, and may be disposed below a groove formed in the concrete, 'as shown. 9a maybe of any suitable kind, and being hingedly connected with the layers of mesh will enable said layers to be folded together.

The hinge joint shown in Fig. 19 may be used for the plate 99 shown in Figs. 14 and 15, and the hinge joint 47 shown in Figs. 14 and 15 may be used for the plate 9/0 shown in Fig. 19.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. The combination with concrete road reinforcement extending across the line of a joint, of a joint member above said reinforcement in said line, a pedestal supporting said member, and means movable with respect to the pedestal for supporting said reinforce ment and pedestal from the sub-base of a road.

2. A device of the character described comprising a member formed from one piece of material and having means to engage a joint member and also having means to engage the adjacent ends of other joint members at opposite sides of the firstnamed joint member.

3. A device of the character described comprising a member bent from a single blank of material and having a portion to receive a joint member also and having other portions to receive the adjacent terminals of other joint members at opposite sides of the firstnamed joint member.

4. A supporting member formed from a single blank of material having means for supporting a oint member and also having other means for supporting the adjacent terminals The plat-e of other joint members at opposite sides of the firstnamed oint member.

5. A. supporting member formed from a single blank of material and having a slot to receive a joint member, said member also having other slots to receive the adjacent terminals of other joint members at opposite sides of the firstnamed joint member.

6. A supporting member having portions at opposite ends adapted to engage concrete road reinforcement and having a portion at one of said ends to engage a joint member.

7. A supporting member having slotted portions at opposite ends adapted to engage concrete road reinforcement, and means carried by said member at one of said ends for engaging a joint member.

8. A supporting member having an upwardly opening slotted portion adapted to receive a joint member and having downwardly diverging portions at opposite sides of said slotted portion and provided with slots for receiving the adjacent ends of other joint members.

9. A support-ing member having an upwardly opening slotted portion adapted to receive a joint member and having downwardly diverging portions at opposite sides of said slotted portion and provided with slots for receiving the adjacent ends of other joint members, said downwardly diverging portions having means at their lower ends adapted to engage concrete road reinforcement.

10. A supporting member bent from a strip of material and having a doubled intermediate portion providing an upwardly opening slot adapted to receive a joint member, said supporting member having portions diverg ing downwardly from the mouth of the slotted portion and provided with slots to receive the adjacent ends of other joint members.

11. A supporting member bent from a strip of material and having a doubled intermediate portion providing an upwardly opening slot adapted to receive a joint member, said supporting member having portions diverging downwardly from the mouth of the slotted portion and provided with slots to receive the adjacent ends of other joint members, said downwardly diverging portions being provided at their lower ends with means adapted to engage concrete road reinforcement.

12. A supporting member comprising a plate having a slot adapted to receive a joint member and having downwardly diverging flanges at opposite sides of said slot, said flanges having slots adapted to receive the adjacent ends of other joint members.

13. A supporting member comprising a plate having a slot adapted to receive a joint member and having downwardly diverging flanges at opposite sides of said slot, said plate having means at the lower ends of said flanges adapted to engage concrete road reinforcement, said flanges having slots adapted to receive the adjacent ends of other joint memhere.

14;. A supporting member having slotted portions adapted to engage elements of road reinforcement, said member having portions extending from said slotted portions to overlie said elements and provided with other slotted portions to engage said elements.

15. A supporting member having portions adapted to engage road reinforcement and provided with stake receiving slots so arranged that stakes inserted through said slots will contact With said reinforcement.

16. A supporting member having portions to overlie elements of road reinforcement and provided with slots adapted to receive stakes is contact with said elements.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOHN N. HELTZEL. 

